Docker CLI/Compose prior 29.2.0 on Windows docker-compose.exe uncontrolled search path

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Docker CLI and Compose on Windows. Affected is an unknown function of the file docker-compose.exe. Executing a manipulation can lead to uncontrolled search path. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-15558. The attack can only be executed locally. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Docker CLI and Compose on Windows and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown function of the file docker-compose.exe. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uncontrolled search path vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-427. The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Docker CLI for Windows searches for plugin binaries in C:\ProgramData\Docker\cli-plugins, a directory that does not exist by default. A low-privileged attacker can create this directory and place malicious CLI plugin binaries (docker-compose.exe, docker-buildx.exe, etc.) that are executed when a victim user opens Docker Desktop or invokes Docker CLI plugin features, and allow privilege-escalation if the docker CLI is executed as a privileged user. This issue affects Docker CLI: through 29.1.5 and Windows binaries acting as a CLI-plugin manager using the github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/docker/[email protected]+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager  package, such as Docker Compose. This issue does not impact non-Windows binaries, and projects not using the plugin-manager code.

The weakness was shared by Nitesh Surana. The advisory is available at docs.docker.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-15558 since 02/03/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Local access is required to approach this attack. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1574 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 29.2.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• Virtualization Software

Vendor

• Docker

Name

• CLI
• Compose

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If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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